Saudi Aramco Shuts 550,000 bpd Ras Tanura Refinery After Drone Attack Linked to Iran

Saudi Aramco has temporarily halted operations at its Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, which processes 550,000 barrels of crude per day, following a drone strike reportedly connected to Iran’s retaliatory actions in the Gulf.

The Ras Tanura complex, located along the kingdom’s Gulf coastline, serves as both a major refining facility and a key export terminal, highlighting its critical role in global oil supply. Industry insiders said the shutdown was a precautionary response to the attack.

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The incident coincided with a series of regional strikes affecting Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama, and Duqm in Oman, causing disruptions in maritime shipping. Brent crude futures jumped roughly 10% on Monday in response to the heightened geopolitical risk.

The drone strike comes in the wake of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian military and nuclear sites over the weekend. Explosions were reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities. Israel termed its actions “preventive,” while the US said the strikes aimed to neutralize imminent threats from Iran.

Shipping through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passage handling about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and LNG — slowed significantly, with some vessels reversing course and others delaying entry. Japan and Greece advised their fleets to reconsider transiting the waterway, reflecting the global sensitivity to supply-chain risks in the region.

Despite the shutdown, officials reported that operations at Ras Tanura remained under control. Still, the event represents the first significant disruption to global energy flows since the recent US-Israel strikes, raising concerns over regional stability and oil supply continuity.